Sign troubles: Communities struggle with how to regulate neon signs and other advertising

Frankfort restaurant that was ticketed for a neon sign helps change the policy there

June 26, 2009|By Pat Harper, Janice Neumann and Barbara Dargis, SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE and Freelance reporters Patrick Ferrell and Carmen Greco Jr. contributed to this report.

Frankfort recently decided to ease up on its long-standing ban on neon signs when local businesses reminded trustees why people put up signs in the first place.

Michael Papandrea, owner of Parmesan's Wood Stone Pizza restaurant, told the Village Board this month that without an "open" sign, it is easy for potential customers to breeze by his eatery. It's set back from busy U.S. Highway 30 inside a structure that blends in with nearby office buildings.

"When people first walk in, they often say, 'Are you open?'" said Papandrea, whose restaurant was cited by the village in 2007 for violating a ban on neon signs when it put up an "open" sign.

The board agreed to loosen its restriction to allow each business to use one neon "open" sign as long as it doesn't exceed 2 square feet.

Frankfort is by no means the only south suburb to grapple with the issue of signs. Many a Village Board meeting has run overtime debating sign restrictions, with local ordinances running dozens of pages long (Frankfort's sign ordinance is more than 50 pages long). Rules range considerably across the area, with Frankfort and neighboring Mokena known for being more restrictive while more urban, built-out communities to the north, like Chicago Ridge, permit more types of signs in its commercial and industrial neighborhoods.

The issue came up in early June in Palos Heights when an unpopular LED sign belonging to a church came up at a Village Board meeting. The town is reworking its sign ordinance because of growing complaints in the last year about LED signs, said building commissioner Jim Dougherty.

"It isn't so much the lighted signs, it's the electronic message boards that some people find to be obtrusive," Dougherty said.

Bruce Zartler, building commissioner in Worth, said the village is updating its sign ordinance, which he said is "outdated" and does not address LED and computer-controlled signs.

In recent years, Worth has made some progress eliminating signs that business owners place on sidewalks, Zartler said. Owners are permitted to have one illuminated or neon sign on their buildings, and strip malls are permitted one free-standing sign.

Orland Park, one of the south suburbs' largest retail centers, has no limit on the amount of neon signs that can be displayed, but it has restrictions to ensure they are tasteful and unobtrusive.

The signs cannot flash or exceed light-intensity requirements, said Karie Friling, the village's director of development services.

"As long as they are not offensive or exceed illumination restrictions," she said.

While non-flashing neon signs are allowed in Hazel Crest, their size is dependent on such factors as the size of the building it hangs on, according to Bob Grabowski, assistant chief of the fire and inspection services department.

Smaller neon signs, like "open" signs, however, are allowed to flash and can have multiple colors, he said.

Oak Forest similarly prohibits blinking or flashing neon signs. As for other illuminated ground signs, each business is allowed one as long as it isn't higher than 20 feet and covers no more than 200 square feet.

Some businesses have sought permission to have multiple temporary signs, saying they need more signage because of the bad economy, said Marisa Munizzo, community developer planner for Oak Forest.

Evergreen Park Mayor Jim Sexton said he's noticed an uptick in similar requests.

"We've been lenient right now because we know things are tough and we're trying to let the people advertise in a multitude of ways to help them get through these difficult economic times," Sexton said.

Chicago Ridge, meanwhile, has some restrictions on the size and placement of signs but otherwise allows neon and illuminated signs in its commercial and industrial areas on Ridgeland and Harlem Avenues, among other areas, said Fran Coglianese, building department secretary.

"We want our businesses to have visibility," said Coglianese, who characterized the suburb's philosophy as "very pro-business."

Although there is no sign ordinance in Park Forest, all signs must be approved by the Village Board before they go up, said Larrie Kerstes, director of building, planning, zoning and community development. Neon signs have been approved for inside storefront businesses and for outdoor signage, he said.

Patrick Finn, assistant village manager in Flossmoor, said the board has modified sign regulations in recent years "to present a business-friendly environment."